Communications decision methods and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for making communications decisions are described. In some embodiments, a method includes recovering a first quality of service level from a first transmission request signal directed to a second communications device, and making a decision whether or not to transmit traffic data to a third communications device based on the recovered first quality of service level. In other embodiments a method includes recovering a first quality of service level from a first transmission request signal, and making a decision whether or not to transmit a first transmission request response signal in response to a second transmission request signal based on the recovered first quality of service level. In some embodiments, the phase of the transmission request signal is used to communicate the quality of service level. The device transmitting the transmission request signal may also transmit pilots which can be used as phase reference signals.

FIELD

Various embodiments relate to wireless communications methods andapparatus and, more particularly, to wireless communications methods andapparatus for communicating and/or using quality of service levelinformation.

BACKGROUND

In communications systems, data may have different levels oftransmission priority due to, e.g., the type of data to be transmitted,a priority level associated with the device from which the data is to betransmitted, a priority level associated with a user of thecommunications device seeking to transmit data and/or a priority levelassociated with the intended data recipient and/or device which is toreceive the data.

While the reason data may be entitled to a particular priority level mayvary, for purposes of providing a comparable data priority level, thepriority of the data to be transmitted may be expressed in terms of aquality of service level to which the data to be transmitted is entitledto receive in the system. The quality of service level may be expressedas a one or multi-bit value depending on the system and/or the number ofbits available for communicating quality of service level information.

To facilitate implementation of different levels of quality of service,it is useful for one or more devices in a communications system to knowthe quality of service level corresponding to the data to becommunicated.

In peer to peer communications systems, where individual peer devicesmay make decisions on whether to proceed with data transmission or torespond to requests to transmit data, it would be useful if individualpeer devices making the decisions had quality of service informationavailable when making transmission related decisions.

Thus, it should be appreciated that there is a need for methods offacilitating communications between peer devices which would allow forthe communication and/or use of quality of service level information.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus for use in wireless communications networks, e.g.,regional ad hoc peer to peer networks, are described.

Some but not necessarily all aspects are directed to methods andapparatus for making communications decisions based on quality ofservice level information communicated with a transmission request.

One aspect is directed to a first exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device, the method comprising: recovering a first qualityof service level from a first transmission request signal directed to asecond communications device and making a decision whether or not totransmit traffic data to a third communications device based on therecovered first quality of service level. In some but not necessarilyall embodiments, the quality of service level information is recoveredfrom the phase of the first transmission request signal. In some suchembodiments, the first transmission request signal is from an accessrouter or other device which transmits one or more pilots which can beused as a phase reference signal facilitating proper interpretation ofthe first quality of service level. In some embodiments, the firstquality of service level is communicated as a single bit value.

An exemplary first communications device, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment, comprises at least one processor configured torecover a first quality of service level from a first transmissionrequest signal directed to a second communications device, and make adecision whether or not to transmit traffic data to a thirdcommunications device based on the recovered first quality of servicelevel. In some embodiments, the exemplary first communications devicefurther includes a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

Another aspect is directed to a second exemplary method of operating afirst communications device. The second exemplary method of operating afirst communications device includes recovering a first quality ofservice level from a first transmission request signal and making adecision whether or not to transmit a first transmission requestresponse signal in response to a second transmission request signalbased on the recovered first quality of service level. As in the firstexemplary method, the quality of service level may be recovered from thephase of the phase of the first transmission request signal. In thesecond exemplary method, the first transmission request may be from anaccess router and the second transmission request may be from a peer topeer communications device. The first communications device in thesecond method may be a device to which the first transmission requestsignal was not directed but to which the second transmission requestresponse was directed, e.g., transmitted to. Thus the first transmissionrequest may correspond to a communications connection in which the firstcommunications device in the second exemplary method is not acommunications peer while the second transmission request signalcorresponds to a communications connection in which the firstcommunications device is a communications peer.

In an exemplary embodiment a first communications device comprises atleast one processor configured to recover a first quality of servicelevel from a first transmission request signal and make a decisionwhether or not to transmit a first transmission request response signalin response to a second transmission request signal based on therecovered first quality of service level. A memory may, and in someembodiments is, coupled to the at least one processor.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer communications network,e.g., an ad-hoc peer to peer communications network in a local region,in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a first portion of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating a first communications device in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2B is a second portion of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating a first communications device in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an assembly of modules which can be used in theexemplary communications device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary first communications device inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an assembly of modules which can be used in theexemplary communications device of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary peer to peer communications network,e.g., an ad-hoc peer to peer communications network implemented in alocal region, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates an assembly of modules which can be used in theexemplary communications device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates an assembly of modules which can be used in theexemplary communications device of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer communications network100 e.g., an ad-hoc peer to peer communications network implemented in alocal region, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. Exemplarycommunications network 100 includes a plurality of peer to peer wirelesscommunications devices (communications device A 102, communicationsdevice B 104, communications device C 108, communications device 110, .. . , communications device N 112) and an access router 106, e.g., abase station. Although one access router has been shown in thecommunications network 100, it should be appreciated that thecommunications network may, and sometimes does include several accessrouters. The wireless communications devices (102, 104, 108, 110, . . ., 112) support various signaling between peers, e.g., peer discoverysignals, transmission request signals, transmission request responsesignals, etc., and data transmissions, e.g., traffic signals, betweenpeers. Some of the peer to peer communications devices, e.g.,communications device 1 110, also include a wired interface, whichcouples the peer to peer communications device to other nodes and/or theInternet, in addition to a wireless communications interface. Some ofthe peer to peer communications devices are mobile communicationsdevices, e.g., handheld mobile communications devices.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, a peer to peercommunications device, e.g., the communications device C 108, sends atransmission request signal 120 to the access router 106. The accessrouter 106 may, and sometimes does, respond to the communications deviceC 108 by sending a request response signal 122. In some embodiments thetransmission of request response signal 122 signifies that access router106 acquiesces to the transmission request of signal 120. In someembodiments, the request response signal 122 is a single tone signal,i.e., a signal communicated using a single OFDM tone. In some suchembodiments, such a single tone signal is communicated during a singleOFDM transmission time interval, e.g., the single tone signal iscommunicated using one OFDM tone-symbol. In some embodiments, differentsets of OFDM tone-symbols in a timing/frequency structure are associatedwith different signals, e.g., request signals, request response signals,pilot signals, beacon signals, etc. In some embodiments, requestresponse signal 122 is sometimes communicated using a single tone. Insome such embodiments the phase of the request response signal 122communicates a quality of service (QoS) level, e.g., a transmissionpriority. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the wirelesscommunications devices (102, 104, 108, 110, . . . ,112) are aware ofaccess routers in the system 100 including access router 106. In somesuch embodiments, the communications devices (102, 104, 108, 110, . . ., 112) track the channel to one or more of the access routers in thenetwork 100 including the access router 106, that the communicationsdevices (102, 104, 108, 110, . . . ,112) can currently detect. Forexample, consider that communications device A 102 has been able todetect access router 106 and has been tracking the channel betweenaccess router 106 and itself. Further consider that communicationsdevice B 104 has been able to detect access router 106 and has beentracking the channel between access router 106 and itself device.Further consider that communications device A 102 and communicationsdevice B 104 also receive the request response signal 122 transmittedfrom the access router 106 to communications device C 108. Using thetracking channel conditions, communications device A 102 andcommunications device B 104 are able to recover information communicatedin the request response signal 122, e.g. QoS level informationcommunicated in the phase of request response signal 122.

As shown in FIG. 1, peer to peer communications device B 104 seeks totransmit data, e.g., traffic data, to peer to peer communications deviceA 102. Thus communications device B 104 sends a transmission requestsignal 124 to the communications device A 102. In some embodiments thecommunications device A 102 sends a request response signal 126 back tothe communications device B 104, if communications device A 102acquiesces to the transmission request of signal 124. In someembodiments, the request response signal 126 communicates to the deviceB 104 that communications device A 102 is agreeable to receive trafficdata from device B 104. In some embodiments, communications device A 102decide whether or not to transmit a request response signal 126 inresponse to the transmission request signal 124 based on whether or notone or more conditions are satisfied. For example, in one exemplaryembodiment communications device A 102 recovers a QoS level from thephase of the received request response signal 122. If the QoS levelindicates that higher priority traffic data is to be communicated fromcommunications device C 108 to the access router 106, thencommunications device A 102 may, and sometimes does, decide not totransmit the request response signal 126. In some embodiments, thedecision of whether or not to transmit the request response signal 126is based additional criteria, in addition to a criteria based ondetection of intended higher priority traffic of another connection. Forexample, in some embodiments, communications device A 102 decideswhether or not to transmit the request response signal 126 based on thereceived power of the transmission request signal 124 and received powerof the transmission request signal 120.

In some embodiments, in the event when the request response 126 isreceived by the communications device B 104, it decides whether or notto transmit traffic data to the communications device A 102 based onwhether or not one or more conditions are satisfied, e.g., as discussedabove. In one exemplary embodiment communications device B 104 recoversa QoS level from the phase of the received request response signal 122.In some embodiments, the communications device B 104 uses a generatedchannel estimate for a channel between communications device B 104 andthe access router 106, to interpret the phase of the received requestresponse signal 122, e.g., recovering the QoS level from the phase. Thechannel estimate may be, and sometimes is, generated by communicationsdevice B 104 using a pilot signal 121 received from the access router106. In some embodiments communication device B 104 is aware of thetransmission priority level of the traffic data that communicationsdevice B 104 wishes to communicate to communications device A 102. Insome embodiments, if the recovered QoS level indicates that the trafficdata to be communicated from communications device C 108 to the accessrouter 106 has a higher priority, as indicated by the recovered QoSlevel, than the priority associated with its own intended traffictransmission, then communications device B 104 may, and sometimes does,decide to yield, i.e., not transmit its traffic data to communicationsdevice A 102 in the current transmission slot. In some otherembodiments, the communications device B 104 may decide to transmit itstraffic data to communications device A 102 based on predeterminedcriteria. In some embodiments, a transmitter yielding decision bycommunications device B 104 to yield is made to facilitate communicationof the higher priority traffic data from the communications device C 108to the access router 106. Thus the transmitter yielding ofcommunications device B 104 allows traffic from communications device C108 to access router 106 to occur without interference from traffictransmissions between communications device B 104 and communicationsdevice A 102 in the same traffic air link resource, e.g., same trafficsegment.

FIG. 2, which comprises the combination of FIGS. 2A and 2B, is aflowchart 200 of an exemplary method of operating a first communicationsdevice, e.g., communications device B 104 of FIG. 1, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment. Operation of the exemplary method starts instep 202 where the first communications device, e.g. device B 104, ispowered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start step 202 tostep 204. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for each trafficslot in which the first communications, e.g., device B 104, seeks totransmit to a third communications device, e.g., device A 102, varioussteps of flowchart 200 are performed as discussed below. In variousembodiments, the first communications, e.g., device B 104, executes achannel estimation sub-routine 203 in parallel with various other stepsin flowchart 200. Channel estimation sub-routine 203 implements achannel estimation process for the channel between the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 104, and an access router, e.g.,access router 106. The sub-routine includes steps 205, 207 and 209 whichare performed at a different rate, e.g., a slower rate, than the rate atwhich other steps of flowchart 200 are performed. For example, theexecution of sub-routine 203 may be repeated after a time period whichincludes multiple traffic slots in which the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 104, seeks to transmit traffic data to a thirddevice, e.g., device A 102.

In step 204 the first communications device, e.g., device B 104,transmits a transmission request signal, e.g., request signal 124, tothe third communications device, e.g., communications device A 102. Theoperation proceeds from step 204 to step 206 wherein the firstcommunications device B 104 receives a transmission request responsesignal, e.g., request response signal 126, from the third communicationsdevice A 102. The transmission request response signal 126 being inresponse to the request signal 124 sent by the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 104. Operation proceeds from step 206 to step208.

In step 208, the first communications device, e.g., device B 104receives a transmission request response signal, e.g., request responsesignal 122, from an access router, e.g., access router 106. Thetransmission request response 122 is in response to a traffictransmission request signal, e.g., request signal 120, sent from asecond communications device, e.g., communications device C 108, to theaccess router 106. In some embodiments, the transmission requestresponse signal 122 is a single tone signal. In various embodiments, thephase of the transmission request response signal 122 carries QoSinformation. In some embodiments, the QoS information conveys a traffictransmission priority for transmission of the traffic data for which thetransmission request 120 was made by second communications, e.g., deviceC 108. The operation proceeds from step 208 to step 210.

Sub-routine 203, which includes steps 205, 207 and 209, will now bediscussed. In step 205, the first communications device, e.g., device B104, receives a pilot signal, e.g., pilot signal 121, from the accessrouter 106. Operation proceeds from step 205 to step 207 in which thefirst communications device, e.g., device B 104, generates a channelestimate of a channel between the access router 106 and the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 104. In accordance with anexemplary embodiment, the generated channel estimate is sometimes usedby the first communications device, e.g., device B 104, to interpretphase of the transmission request response signal 122. The arrow 211represents that generated channel estimate is available to the device B104 and may be used in step 210. The operation proceeds from step 207 toreturn 209 from where the operation proceeds back to step 205. Aspreviously discussed, the sub-routine 203 may be, and sometimes is,repeated after a certain time period, e.g., in accordance with apredetermined schedule.

Returning to step 210, in step 210, the first communications device,e.g., device B 104, recovers a QoS level from the transmission requestresponse signal received from the access router, e.g., from transmissionrequest response signal 122 received from access router 106. In someembodiments, the first communications device, e.g., device B 104, aspart of recovering a QoS level in step 210, performs sub-steps 212 and213. In sub-step 212, the first communications device uses the generatedchannel estimate, e.g., as generated in step 207, to interpret a phaseof the received transmission request response signal, e.g., signal 122.For example, it is possible that without the generated channel estimateof step 207, the first communications device, e.g., device B 104, maynot have a reference point in order to properly decode the phase of thereceived request response signal 122 corresponding to the connectionbetween access router 106 and communications device C 108. Thus, inorder to correctly decode the phase of the signal 122 and retrieve theQoS level being communicated, the first communications device, e.g.device B 104, generates a channel estimate using the pilot signal, e.g.,pilot signal 121, and performs a channel compensation operation tocompensate for phase distortions caused due to channel variations. Thisis performed so that the first communications device, e.g., device B104, can adjust for channel conditions between itself and access router106 and thus read the phase of the signal 122 and recover the correctQoS level being communicated the phase. In sub-step 213 the QoS level isrecovered from the phase of the received transmission request responsesignal, e.g., signal 122. Operation proceeds from step 210 to step 214via the connecting node 201.

In step 214 the first communications device, e.g. device B 104, decideswhether or not to transmit traffic data based on the recovered QoSlevel. In some embodiments, step 214 includes sub-steps 216, 218, 220and 222. In sub-step 216 the first communications device, e.g. device B104, compares the recovered QoS level to a QoS level corresponding tothe traffic data to be transmitted. The comparison is made between therecovered QoS level from the request response signal from the accessrouter of step 210 and the QoS level associated with the traffic datawhich is to be transmitted from the first communications device, deviceB 104, to the third communications device, e.g., device A 102. In someembodiments, the QoS level comparison is simply a comparison of thetransmission priority indicated by the recovered QoS level andtransmission priority of the traffic data to be transmitted from firstcommunication device, e.g., device B 104, to second communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 102. Operation proceeds from sub-step 216 tosub-step 218.

In sub-step 218, the first communications device, e.g., device B 104,makes a decision how to proceed based on the result of the comparison ofthe QoS levels. If the QoS level of the traffic data to be transmittedis greater than the recovered QoS level, then operation proceeds fromstep 218 to sub-step 220. In step 220 the first communications device,e.g., device B 104, decides to transmit its traffic data to the thirdcommunications device, e.g., device A 102, irrespective of the powerlevel of the transmission request response signal received from theaccess router, e.g., irrespective of the received power level of signal122. In such an event, the operation proceeds from step 220 to step 232.

Returning to sub-step 218, in step 218 if the QoS level of the trafficdata to be transmitted is lower than the recovered QoS level, operationproceeds from sub-step 218 to sub-step 222. In sub-step 222 the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 104, decides whether or not totransmit based on the received power level of the transmission requestresponse signal from the access router and based on an interference costestimate. For example, in some embodiments an interference costestimate, e.g., an SIR level, is calculated by the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 104, as a part of the decision making sub-step222 which may include one or more of sub-steps 224, 226, 228 and 230. Insub-step 224 power level of the received transmission request responsesignal from the access router, e.g. signal 122, is measured. Using themeasured power level of the request response signal from step 224, theinterference cost to the access router 106 is calculated in sub-step226. The calculated interference cost provides an indication of theamount of interference that may be caused by the first communicationsdevice, e.g. device B 104, to the access router, e.g., access router106, if the first communications device, e.g., device B 104, transmitstraffic data. In sub-step 228 the calculated interference cost of step226 is compared to a threshold level in order to determine if the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 104, is expected to causeinterference above a threshold level to the access router, e.g., accessrouter 106. Although, we have discussed the interference cost to theaccess router 106 as an example here, it should be appreciated that thefirst communications device, e.g., device B 104, may, and sometimesdoes, calculate interference cost to one or more of the othercommunications devices in the network 100, for which there may be anintended traffic communications which may be expected to experienceinterference from the first communications device's intended trafficsignaling, to decide if the first communications device, e.g., device B104, may transmit its traffic data or should refrain from transmittingits traffic data in the traffic slot. For example, the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 104 may be controlled to refrainfrom transmitting traffic signals in the traffic slot if it is expectedto cause an unacceptable level of interference to one or more othercommunications device or devices. In sub-step 230, a decision is made bythe first communications device, e.g., device B 104, whether or not totransmit based on the result of the comparison of step 228.

The operation proceeds from step 222 which includes sub-steps 224, 226,228 and 230, to either step 232 or step 234 based on the decision madein sub-step 222. If the calculated interference cost is below thethreshold then, a positive decision, i.e., decision to transmit trafficdata is made and the operation proceeds to step 232. In step 232, thefirst communications device, e.g., device B 104 transmits the trafficdata to the third communications device, e.g. device A 102. Operationproceeds from step 232 to step 236. However, if the calculatedinterference cost is over the threshold then a decision not to transmittraffic data is made by the first communications device, e.g., device B104. In such an event operation proceeds from step 222 to step 234 wherethe first communications device, e.g., device B 104, refrains fromtransmitting the traffic data. Operation proceeds from step 234 toconnecting node 236. From connecting node 236 operation proceeds to step204, where another transmission request signal is transmitted to thethird communications device, e.g. device A 102, corresponding to asubsequent traffic slot in which the first communications device, e.g.,device B 104, seeks to transmit traffic signals to the thirdcommunications device, e.g., device A 102. In some embodiments, therepeat rate of the access router channel estimation sub-routine 203 andthe traffic slot structure is such that multiple iterations of steps 204through connecting node 236 can be, and sometimes are, repeated prior toreceiving another pilot signal from the access router 106. Thus, in someembodiments, the first communications device, e.g., device B 104, can,and sometimes does make multiple decisions whether or not to transmittraffic data in different transmission time slots.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 300 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Communications device 300 is,e.g., a mobile wireless terminal supporting peer to peer communicationsand implementing a method in accordance with flowchart 200 of FIG. 2.Communications device 300 is, e.g., communications device B 104 ofsystem 100 of FIG. 1, Communications device 300 includes a processor 302and memory 304 coupled together via a bus 309 over which the variouselements (302, 304) may interchange data and information.

Communications device 300 further includes an input module 306 and anoutput module 308 which may be coupled to the processor 302 as shown.However, in some embodiments the input module 306 and output module 308are located internal to the processor 302. Input module 306 can receiveinput signals. Input module 306 can, and in some embodiments does,include a wireless receiver and/or a wired or optical input interfacefor receiving input. Output module 308 may include, and in someembodiments does include, a wireless transmitter and/or a wired oroptical output interface for transmitting output. Processor 302 isconfigured to: recover a quality of service level from a transmissionrequest response signal, and make a decision whether or not to transmittraffic data based on the recovered quality of service level. Theprocessor 302 is further configured to: receive the transmission requestresponse signal from an access router, and recover the quality ofservice level from a phase of the transmission request response signal.The transmission request response signal is in response to a traffictransmission request sent from a second communications device to theaccess router. In some embodiments, the processor 302 is furtherconfigured to: receive a pilot signal from the access router, generatean estimate of a channel between said access router and saidcommunications device 300, and use the generated channel estimate tointerpret the phase of the received transmission request responsesignal.

In some embodiments the processor 302 is further configured to comparethe recovered QoS level to a QoS level corresponding to said trafficdata. In some embodiments the processor 302 is further configured todecide to transmit irrespective of the received power level oftransmission request response when the QoS level of the traffic data tobe transmitted is higher than the recovered QoS level. In at least oneembodiment, the processor 302 is further configured to decide whether ornot to transmit based on the received power level of transmissionrequest response signal and based on an interference cost estimate, whenthe QoS level of the traffic data to be transmitted is lower than therecovered QoS level. In at least some embodiments, the processor 302 isfurther configured to control the communications device 300 to makemultiple decisions whether or not to transmit traffic data in differenttransmission time slots. The processor 302 may make multiple decisions,for example, prior to receiving another pilot signal from the accessrouter.

FIG. 4 is an assembly of modules 400 which can, and in some embodimentsare, used in the communications device illustrated in FIG. 3. Themodules in the assembly 400 can be implemented in hardware within theprocessor 302 of FIG. 3, e.g., as individual circuits. Alternatively,the modules may be implemented in software and stored in the memory 304of the communications device shown in FIG. 3. While shown in the FIG. 3embodiment as a single processor, e.g., computer, it should beappreciated that the processor 302 may be implemented as one or moreprocessors, e.g., computers. When implemented in software the modulesinclude code, which when executed by the processor, configure theprocessor, e.g., computer, 302 to implement the function correspondingto the module. In embodiments where the assembly of modules 400 isstored in the memory 304, the memory 304 is a computer program productcomprising a computer readable medium comprising code, e.g., individualcode for each module, for causing at least one computer, e.g., processor302, to implement the functions to which the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 4 control and/or configure the communications device300 or elements therein such as the processor 302, to perform thefunctions of the corresponding steps illustrated in the method flowchart200 of FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the assembly of modules 400 includes a module402 for transmitting a transmission request signal to a thirdcommunications device, a module 404 for receiving transmission requestresponse from the third communications device, a module 406 forreceiving a transmission request response signal from an access router,a module 408 for receiving a pilot signal from the access router, amodule 410 for generating an estimate of a channel between said accessrouter and said first communications device, and a module 412 forrecovering a quality of service (QoS) level from the transmissionrequest response signal received from the access router, and a module416 for making a decision whether or not to transmit traffic data basedon the recovered quality of service level. In some embodiments themodule 412 also includes a module 413 for recovering the QoS level froma phase of the transmission request response signal from the accessrouter and a module 414 for using the generated channel estimate tointerpret the phase of the received transmission request responsesignal.

In at least one embodiment the module 416 includes: a module 418 forcomparing the recovered quality of service level to a quality of servicelevel corresponding to said traffic data, a module 420 for deciding,when the quality of service level of the traffic data to be transmittedis higher than the recovered quality of service level, to transmitirrespective of the received power level of the transmission requestresponse signal from the access router, and a module 422 for deciding,when the quality of service level of the traffic data to be transmittedis lower than the recovered quality of service level, whether or not totransmit based on the received power level of the transmission requestresponse signal from the access router and based on an interference costestimate. The module 416 may also include one or more of: a module 424for measuring power level of the transmission request response from theaccess router, a module 426 for calculating interference cost to theaccess router based on measured power of the request response from theaccess router, a module 428 for comparing the interference cost to athreshold to determine transmission yielding, and a module 430 fordeciding to transmit or not based on the comparison made by module 428.

The assembly of modules 400 further includes a module 432 fortransmitting traffic data, and a module 434 for making multipledecisions whether or not to transmit traffic data in differenttransmission time slots, for example, prior to receiving another pilotsignal from the access router.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device, e.g., communications device A 102 of FIG. 1, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Operation of the exemplarymethod starts in step 502 where the first communications device, e.g.,device A 102, is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds fromstart step 502 to step 504. In some embodiments, the firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 102, also executes channelestimation sub-routine 503 in parallel with various other steps inflowchart 500.

Channel estimation sub-routine 503 implements a channel estimationprocess for the channel between the first communications device, e.g.,device A 102, and an access router, e.g., access router 106. Thesub-routine includes steps 505, 507 and 509 which are performed at adifferent rate, e.g., a slower rate, than the rate at which other stepsof flowchart 500 are performed. For example, the execution ofsub-routine 503 may be repeated after a time period which includesmultiple traffic slots in which the first communications device, e.g.,device A 102, may make a decision whether or not to transmit atransmission request response, e.g., to a third communications device,e.g., device B 104.

In step 504 the first communications device, e.g., device A 102,receives a second transmission request signal, e.g., transmissionrequest signal 124, from a third communications device, e.g.,communications device B 104. The operation proceeds from step 504 tostep 506 wherein the first communications device, e.g., device A 102,receives a first transmission request response signal, e.g., requestresponse signal 122, from an access router, e.g., access router 106. Thefirst transmission request response signal, e.g., signal 122, is inresponse to a first traffic transmission request signal, e.g.,transmission request signal 120, said first traffic transmission requestsignal being sent from a second communications device e.g.,communications device C 108, to the access router 106. In someembodiments, the transmission request response signal, e.g. signal 122,is a single tone signal. As discussed earlier in example of FIG. 2, insome embodiments, the phase of the transmission request response signal,e.g. the phase of signal 122 may carry QoS information. In someembodiments, the QoS information conveys a traffic transmission priorityfor transmission of the traffic data for which a correspondingtransmission request was made, e.g., the corresponding transmissionrequest is transmission request 120 which was made by communicationsdevice C 108. Operation proceeds from step 506 to step 508.

Sub-routine 503, which includes steps 505, 507 and 509, will now bediscussed. In step 505, the first communications device, e.g., device A102, receives a pilot signal, e.g., pilot signal 121, from the accessrouter 106. Operation proceeds from step 505 to step 507 in which thefirst communications device, e.g., device A 102, generates a channelestimate of a channel between the access router 106 and the firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 102. In accordance with anexemplary embodiment, the generated channel estimate is sometimes usedby the first communications device, e.g., device A 102, to interpretphase of the transmission request response signal 122. The arrow 511represents that generated channel estimate is available to the firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 102 and may be used in step 510.The operation proceeds from step 507 to return 509 from where theoperation proceeds back to step 505. As previously discussed, thesub-routine 503 may be, and sometimes is, repeated after a certain timeperiod, e.g., in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

In step 508, the first communications device, e.g. device A 102,recovers a first QoS level from the first transmission request responsesignal, e.g., signal 122. In some embodiments the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 102, recovers the QoS level from a phase of thefirst transmission request response signal, e.g., from the phase ofsignal 122. In some embodiments, first communications device, e.g.device A 102, as part of recovering a QoS level in step 508, alsoperforms sub-step 510. In sub-step 510, the first communications device,e.g. device A 102, uses the generated channel estimate, e.g., asgenerated in step 507, to interpret a phase of the received firsttransmission request response signal, e.g. the phase of signal 122. Useof a generated channel estimate to interpret the phase has beendiscussed in detail earlier in the example of FIG. 2 and will not berepeated again.

Operation proceeds from step 508 to step 512 wherein the firstcommunications device, e.g. device A 102, decides based on the recoveredQoS level, whether or not to transmit a transmission request response,e.g., request response 126, in response to the second traffictransmission request 124 from the third communications device, e.g.,device B 104. In some embodiments, step 512 the various sub-steps 514,516, 518, 520 and 522 are performed as a part of the decision makingstep 512. In sub-step 514, the first device, e.g. device A 102, comparesthe recovered first QoS level to a second QoS level corresponding to aconnection between the first communications device, e.g., device A 102,and the third communications device, e.g., device B 104. For example,there may be a connection identifier associated with the connectionbetween the first communications device, e.g. device A 102, and thethird communications device, e.g., device B 104. In some embodimentsthere is a QoS level associated with such a connection identifier. Insome such embodiments the QoS level is, e.g., a traffic transmissionpriority level for the traffic to be transmitted from the thirdcommunications device, e.g., device B 104, to the first communicationdevice, e.g. device A 102. Thus in at least one embodiment, in step 514the comparison is a comparison between the traffic transmission priorityindicated by the recovered QoS level and transmission priority of thetraffic data to be transmitted from the third communication device,e.g., device B 104, to the first communications device, e.g., device A102. Operation proceeds from sub-step 514 to sub-step 516.

In sub-step 516, the first communications device, e.g., device A 102,makes a decision how to proceed based on the result of the comparison ofthe QoS levels in sub-step 514. If the second QoS level corresponding tothe connection between the first communications device, e.g. device A102, and the third communications device, e.g. device B 104, is greaterthan the recovered first QoS level, then operation proceeds fromsub-step 516 to sub-step 518. In sub-step 518 the first communicationsdevice, e.g. device A 102, decides to transmit the transmission requestresponse signal, e.g. signal 126, to the third communications device,e.g. device B 104. In such an event, the operation proceeds fromsub-step 518 to step 524. However, if the recovered first QoS level isgreater than the second QoS level corresponding to the connectionbetween the first communications device, e.g., device A 102, and thethird communications device, e.g., device B 104, then operation proceedsto from sub-step 516 to sub-step 520. In sub-step 520, the firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 102, generates a channel qualityestimate, e.g., an SIR, based on a received power of the firsttransmission request signal, e.g., signal 120 from the secondcommunications, e.g., device C 108, to the access router 106, and basedon a received power level of the second transmission request signal,e.g., signal 124 from the third communications device, e.g. device B104. For example, an SIR level is calculated using received power of thesecond transmission request, e.g., measured received power of signal 124from device B 104 as the signal power value, and received power level ofthe first transmission request signal, e.g., measured received power ofsignal 120 as an interference signal power value.

In some embodiments, a generated channel quality estimate in sub-step520, above a threshold may be an indication that higher priority trafficdata that may be transmitted from second communications device, e.g.,device C 108, to access router 106 will be expected to cause anunacceptable level of interference to the first communications device,e.g., device A 102, in receiving and/or recovering traffic data fromthird communications device, e.g. device B 104. First communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 102, is aware, from step 514, that traffic datacorresponding to the second communications device, e.g., device C 108,has a higher transmission priority than traffic data corresponding toits own connection. In some embodiments, this implies that the secondcommunications device, e.g., device C, is more likely to transmittraffic data to the access router 106. In some such scenarios the firstcommunications device, e.g. device A 102, refrains from transmitting thetransmission request response, e.g. signal 126, which conveys to thethird communications device, e.g., device B 104, a rejection of itstransmission request, e.g. a rejection of the request of request signal124. In some embodiments, in such a scenario, the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 102, has decided not to transmit the transmissionrequest response since it expects that it will have poor receptionand/or poor recovery of traffic data if it allowed the requesttransmission to proceed. The operation proceeds from sub-step 520 tosub-step 522.

In sub-step 522 a decision is made whether or not to transmit thetransmission request response, e.g. signal 126, to third communicationsdevice, e.g. device B 104, based on the generated channel qualityestimate of sub-step 520, when the second QoS level is lower than therecovered first QoS level. Depending on the decision made based on thegenerated channel quality estimate, the operation proceeds to step 524or step 526. In some embodiments, the decision step 522 includescomparing the generated channel quality estimate with a threshold leveland deciding to proceed based on the result of such a comparison. If thegenerated channel quality is below a threshold level indicating thattransmission of traffic from second communications device, e.g. device C108, to the access router 106 is not expected to cause a substantialinterference problem to first communications device, e.g. device A 102,in receiving traffic data from third communications device, e.g., deviceB 104, then, in some embodiments, the first communications device, e.g.device A 102, decides to transmit the request response signal, e.g.,signal 126, to the third communications device, e.g., device B 104. Insuch an event the operation proceeds to step 524 wherein the firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 102, transmits the transmissionrequest response signal, e.g. signal 126, to the third communicationsdevice, e.g. device B 104. Operation proceeds from step 524 to step 528.

On the other hand if the generated channel quality estimate is high,e.g., above a threshold then the first communications device, e.g.device A 102, in some embodiments, decides not to transmit a requestresponse signal, e.g. signal 126, to third communications device, e.g.device B 104. In such an event, the operation proceeds from step 512which includes sub-step 522, to step 526. In step 526 the firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 102, refrains from transmittingthe request response, e.g. signal 126, to the third communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 104. Operation proceeds from step 526 to step528. In step 528, the operation goes back to step 504, and steps 504through 512 may be, and sometimes are, repeated, for example, prior toreceiving another pilot signal from the access router 106, andaccordingly the first communications device, e.g., device A 102,transmits or refrains from transmitting a request response correspondingto another traffic slot.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary first communications device 600 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. The first communications device600 is, e.g., a mobile wireless terminal supporting peer to peercommunications and implementing a method in accordance with flowchart500 of FIGS. 5. First communications device 600 is, e.g., communicationsdevice A 102 of system 100 of FIG. 1. Communications device 600 includesa processor 602 and memory 604 coupled together via a bus 609 over whichthe various elements (602, 604) may interchange data and information.Communications device 600 further includes an input module 606 and anoutput module 608 which may be coupled to the processor 602 as shown.However, in some embodiments the input module 606 and output module 608are located internal to the processor 602. Input module 606 can receiveinput signals. Input module 606 can, and in some embodiments does,include a wireless receiver and/or a wired or optical input interfacefor receiving input. Output module 608 may include, and in someembodiments does include, a wireless transmitter and/or a wired oroptical output interface for transmitting output.

Processor 602 is configured to: recover a first quality of service levelfrom the first transmission request response signal which is in responseto a first traffic transmission request signal; and make a decision,based on the recovered first quality of service level, whether or not totransmit a transmission request response signal in response to a secondtraffic transmission request signal. In some embodiments, the processor602 is further configured to: receive said first transmission requestresponse signal from an access router, the first transmission requestresponse signal being in response to said first traffic transmissionrequest signal, said first traffic transmission request signal beingsent from a second communications device to said access router. In someembodiments, the processor 602 is further configured to: receive a pilotsignal from the access router; generate, based on said pilot signal, anestimate of a channel between said access router and the firstcommunications device 600, and use the generated channel estimate tointerpret a phase of the received first transmission request responsesignal.

In some embodiments the processor 602 is further configured to comparethe recovered first quality of service level to a second quality ofservice level corresponding to a connection between the firstcommunications device 600 and the third communications device. In somesuch embodiments the processor 602 is further configured to decide totransmit when the second QoS level corresponding to the connectionbetween the third communications device and said first communicationdevice is higher than the recovered first QoS level.

In at least one embodiment, the processor 602 is further configured to:generate a channel quality estimate based on a received power of thesecond traffic transmission request signal and based on a received powerof the first traffic transmission request signal, and decide whether ornot to transmit based on the generated channel quality estimate when thesecond QoS level is lower than the recovered first QoS level. In atleast some embodiments, the processor 602 is further configured to makemultiple decisions whether or not to transmit traffic data in differenttransmission time slots, for example prior to receiving another pilotsignal from the access router.

FIG. 7 is an assembly of modules 700 which can, and in some embodimentsare, used in the communications device illustrated in FIG. 6. Themodules in the assembly 700 can be implemented in hardware within theprocessor 602 of FIG. 6, e.g., as individual circuits. Alternatively,the modules may be implemented in software and stored in the memory 604of the communications device shown in FIG. 6. While shown in the FIG. 6embodiment as a single processor, e.g., computer, it should beappreciated that the processor 602 may be implemented as one or moreprocessors, e.g., computers. When implemented in software the modulesinclude code, which when executed by the processor, configure theprocessor, e.g., computer, 602 to implement the function correspondingto the module. In embodiments where the assembly of modules 700 isstored in the memory 604, the memory 604 is a computer program productcomprising a computer readable medium comprising code, e.g., individualcode for each module, for causing at least one computer, e.g., processor602, to implement the functions to which the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 7 control and/or configure the communications device600 or elements therein such as the processor 602, to perform thefunctions of the corresponding steps illustrated in the method flowchart 500 of FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the assembly of modules 700 includes a module702 for receiving a second traffic transmission request from a thirdcommunications device, a module 704 for receiving a first transmissionrequest response signal from an access router, said first transmissionrequest response being in response to a first traffic transmissionrequest signal, said first traffic transmission request signal beingsent from a second communications device to said access router, a module706 for receiving a pilot signal from the access router, a module 708for generating, based on said pilot signal, an estimate of a channelbetween said access router and said first communications device, amodule 710 for recovering a first quality of service (QoS) level fromthe first transmission request response signal, which in someembodiments, also includes a module 712 for using the generated channelestimate to interpret a phase of the received first transmission requestresponse signal. The assembly of modules 700 further includes a module714 for deciding, based on the recovered first QoS level, whether or notto transmit a transmission request response signal in response to thesecond transmission request signal from the third communications device.

In at least one embodiment the module 714 includes: a module 716 forcomparing the recovered first quality of service level to a secondquality of service level, said second quality of service levelcorresponding to a connection between said first communications deviceand the third communications device, a module 718 for deciding totransmit the transmission request response signal, when the second QoSlevel corresponding to the connection between said first communicationsdevice and the third communications device is higher than the recoveredfirst QoS level, a module 720 for generating a channel quality estimatebased on a received power of the second traffic transmission requestsignal and based on a received power of the first traffic transmissionrequest signal, and a module 722 for deciding whether or not totransmit, based on the generated channel quality estimate, when thesecond QoS level corresponding to the connection between said firstcommunications device and the third communications device is lower thanthe recovered first QoS level.

The assembly of modules 700 further includes a module 724 fortransmitting the transmission request response signal, and a module 726for making multiple decisions whether or not to transmit a transmissionrequest response signal in different transmission time slots, e.g.,prior to receiving another pilot signal from the access router.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary peer to peer communications network 800,e.g., an ad-hoc peer to peer communications network implemented in alocal region, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8illustrates some features in accordance with an exemplary embodimentrelated to downlink communications between the access router 806 andcommunications device C 808 which is, e.g., an access terminal.

Exemplary communications network 800 includes a plurality of peer topeer wireless communications devices (communications device A 802,communications device B 804, communications device C 808, communicationsdevice 1 810, . . . , communications device N 812) and an access router806, e.g., a base station. Although one access router has been shown inthe communications network 800, it should be appreciated that thecommunications network may, and sometimes does, include several accessrouters. The wireless communications devices (802, 804, 808, 810, . . ., 812) support various signaling between peers, e.g., peer discoverysignals, transmission request signals, transmission request responsesignal, etc., and data transmissions between peers. Some of the peer topeer communications devices, e.g., communications device 1 810, alsoinclude a wired interface, which couples the peer to peer communicationsdevice to other nodes and/or the Internet, in addition to a wirelesscommunications interface. Some of the peer to peer communicationsdevices are mobile communications devices, e.g., handheld mobilecommunications devices.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the access router 806 sendsa transmission request signal 840 to a peer to peer device in thenetwork, e.g., communications device C 808. The phase of thetransmission request signal 840 from the access router 806 carries QoSinformation, e.g., a QoS level communicating a transmission priority. Insome embodiments, the transmission request signal 840 is a single tonesignal, i.e., a signal communicated using a single OFDM tone. In somesuch embodiments, such a single tone signal is communicated during asingle OFDM transmission time interval, e.g., the single tone signal iscommunicated using one OFDM tone-symbol. In some embodiments, differentsets of OFDM tone-symbols in a timing/frequency structure are associatedwith different signals, e.g., request signals, request response signals,pilot signals, beacon signals, etc.

In some embodiments transmission request signal 840 is communicatedusing a single tone. In some such embodiments the phase of thetransmission response signal 840 communicates a quality of service (QoS)level, e.g., a transmission priority. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, the wireless communications devices (802, 804, 808, 810, . .. ,812) are aware of access routers in the system 800 including accessrouter 806. In some such embodiments, the communications devices (802,804, 808, 810, . . . , 812) track the channel to one or more of theaccess routers in the network 800 including the access router 806, thatthe communications devices (802, 804, 808, 810, . . . ,812) cancurrently detect, e.g., hear. For example, consider that communicationsdevice A 802 has been able to detect access router 806 and has beentracking the channel between access router 806 and itself Furtherconsider that communications device B 804 has been able to detect accessrouter 806 and has been tracking the channel between access router 806and itself device. Further consider that communications device A 802 andcommunications device B 804 also receive the transmission request signal840 transmitted from the access router 806 to communications device C808. Using the tracked channel conditions, communications device A 802and communications device B 804 are able to recover informationcommunicated in the transmission request signal 840, e.g. QoS levelinformation communicated in the phase of transmission request signal840.

In some embodiments the communications device C 808 may, and sometimesdoes, respond to the access router 806 by sending a transmission requestresponse signal 842, if communications device C 808 acquiesces to thetransmission request 840.

As shown in FIG. 8, peer to peer communications device A 802 seeks totransmit data, e.g., traffic data, to peer to peer communications deviceB 804. Thus communications device A 802 sends a transmission requestsignal 844 to the communications device B 804. In some embodiments thecommunications device B 804 sends a request response signal 846 back tothe communications device A 802, if communications device B 804acquiesces to the request of signal 844. In some embodiments, therequest response signal 846 communicates to communications device A 802that communications device B 804 is agreeable to receive traffic datafrom communications device A 802. In some embodiments, communicationsdevice B 804 decides whether or not to transmit request response signal846 in response to the transmission request signal 844 based on whetheror not one or more conditions are satisfied. For example, in oneexemplary embodiment communications device B 804 recovers the QoS levelfrom the phase of the received transmission request signal 840. If therecovered QoS level from signal 840 indicates that traffic data to becommunicated from the access router 806 to the communications device C808 has a higher priority than the priority associated with traffic tobe communicated from communications device A 802 to communicationsdevice B 804, then communications device B 804 may, and sometimes does,decide not to transmit the request response signal 846.

In some embodiments, the decision of whether or not to transmit therequest response signal 846 is based on additional criteria, in additionto criteria based on detection of an intended higher priority traffictransmission corresponding to another connection. For example, considerthat communications device B 804 determines that a QoS level associatedwith traffic on its own connection does not indicate a higher prioritythan the QoS level associated with intended traffic from the accessrouter 806 to device C 808. Following this determination, in someembodiments, communications device B 804 decides whether or not totransmit the request response signal 846 based on a channel qualityestimate, e.g., an SIR. The channel quality is generated, e.g., usingthe received power of the request signal 840 from access router 806 andreceived power of the request signal 844 from communications device A802.

In some embodiments, in the event that request response 846 istransmitted by communications device B 804 and is received by thecommunications device A 802, communications device A 802 decide whetheror not to transmit traffic data to the communications device B 804 basedon whether or not one or more conditions are satisfied. In one exemplaryembodiment communications device A 802 recovers a QoS level from thephase of the received request signal 840. In some such embodiments, thecommunications device A 802 uses a generated channel estimate for achannel between communications device A 802 and the access router 806,to interpret the phase of the received request signal 840, e.g.,recovering the QoS level from the phase. The channel estimate issometimes generated by communications device A 802 using a pilot signal830 received from the access router 806. The communication device A 802is aware of the transmission priority level of the traffic data thatcommunications device A 802 wishes to transmit to communications deviceB 804. In some embodiments, if the recovered QoS level indicates thatthe traffic data to be communicated from access router 806 to thecommunications device C 808 has a higher priority, as indicated by therecovered QoS level, than the priority associated with its own intendedtraffic transmission, then communications device A 802 may, andsometimes does, decide to yield, i.e., not transmit its traffic data tocommunications device B 804 in the current transmission slot. In someembodiments, communications device A 802 decides whether or not totransmit its traffic data to device B 804 based on predeterminedcriteria. In some embodiments, the transmitter yielding decision bycommunications device A 802 is made to facilitate communication ofhigher priority traffic data from the access router 806 to thecommunications device C 808. Thus the transmitter yielding ofcommunications device A 802 allows traffic from access router 806 tocommunications device C 808 to occur without interference from traffictransmissions between communications device A 802 and communicationsdevice B 804 in the same traffic air link resource, e.g., same trafficsegment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device, e.g., communications device A 802 of FIG. 8, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Operation of the exemplarymethod starts in step 902 where the first communications, e.g., device A802 is powered on and initialized. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, for each traffic slot in which the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 802, seeks to transmit to a third communicationsdevice, e.g., communications device B 804, various steps of flowchart900 are performed as discussed below. In some embodiments, the firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 802, also executes the channelestimation sub-routine 903, for generating a channel estimate for achannel between the first communications device A 802 and access router806, in parallel with various other steps in flowchart 900.

Channel estimation sub-routine 903 implements a channel estimationprocess for the channel between the communications device implementingthe exemplary method, which in this example is communications device A802, and an access router 806. The sub-routine includes steps 905, 907and 909 which are performed at a different rate, e.g., a slower rate,than the rate at which other steps of flowchart 900 are performed. Forexample, the execution of sub-routine 903 may be repeated after a timeperiod which includes multiple traffic slots in which the firstcommunications device A 802 seeks to transmit traffic data to the thirdcommunications device, e.g., device B 804.

In step 905, communications device A 802 receives a pilot signal, e.g.,pilot signal 830, from the access router 806. Operation proceeds fromstep 905 to step 907 wherein the first communications device A 802generates a channel estimate of a channel between the access router 806and device A 802. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, thegenerated channel estimate is sometimes used by the first communicationsdevice A 802 to interpret phase of the transmission response signal 840.The arrow 911 represents that the generated channel estimate isavailable to the device A 802 and may be used in step 910. The operationproceeds from step 907 to return 909 from where the operation proceedsback to step 905. As discussed previously, sub-routine 903 may be, andsometimes is, repeated, e.g., after a predetermined time period inaccordance with an implemented timing structure.

Operation proceeds from start step 902 to step 904. In step 904 thefirst communications device, e.g. device A 802, transmits a transmissionrequest signal, e.g., transmission request signal 844, to the thirdcommunications device, e.g., communications device B 804. The operationproceeds from step 904 to step 906 where the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 802, receives a transmission request responsesignal, e.g., request response signal 846, from the third communicationsdevice, e.g. device B 804. The request response signal 846 is inresponse to the transmission request signal 844 sent from firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 802, to third communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 804. Operation proceeds from step 906 to step908.

In step 908 first communications, e.g., device A 802, receives a firsttransmission request signal, e.g., transmission request signal 840, froman access router, e.g., access router 806. The transmission requestsignal 840 is a request signal to transmit traffic data from the accessrouter 806 to a second communications device, e.g., communicationsdevice C 808 of FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the transmission requestsignal 840 from the access router 806 is a single tone signal. In someembodiments, the phase of the transmission request signal 840 carriesQoS information. In some embodiments, the QoS information conveys atraffic transmission priority corresponding to the intended traffic datafrom the access router 806 to the second communications device, e.g.,device C 108, e.g. corresponding to the traffic slot. The operationproceeds from step 908 to step 910.

In step 910, the first communications device, e.g., device A 802,recovers a first QoS level from the first transmission request signal,e.g. signal 840, directed to the second communications device, e.g.,device C 808. In some embodiments, first communications device, e.g.device A 802, as part of recovering a QoS level in step 910, alsoperforms sub-steps 911 and 912. In sub-step 911 the QoS level isrecovered from a phase of the received first transmission requestsignal, e.g. transmission request signal 840. In sub-step 912, the firstcommunications device uses the generated channel estimate, e.g., fromstep 207, to interpret the phase of the received first transmissionrequest signal, e.g., the phase of signal 840. The first communicationsdevice, e.g. device A 802, in some embodiments, compensates for phaseand/or amplitude distortions caused by the channel in order to properlydecode the phase of the received first transmission request signal,e.g., signal 840. Thus, in some embodiments, first communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 802, generates a channel estimate, andsubsequently uses the generated channel estimate to adjust for channelconditions when decoding the phase of a signal from the access router,e.g., transmission request signal 840. The use of channel estimationinformation facilitates effective reading of the phase of thetransmission request signal 840 and the retrieval of the QoS level beingconveyed in signal 840 by the first communications device, e.g., deviceA 802. The operation proceeds from step 910 to step 914.

In step 914 the first communications device, e.g., device A 802 decides,based on the recovered first QoS level, whether or not to transmit itstraffic data to the third communications device, e.g., device B 804. Insome embodiments, step 914 includes one or more of various sub-steps916, 918, 920, 922 and 924. In sub-step 916, the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device A 802, compares the recovered first QoS level fromthe first transmission request signal, e.g., signal 840, to a second QoSlevel corresponding to the traffic data to be transmitted from firstcommunications device, e.g., device A 802 to the third communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 804. In some such embodiments the QoS levels are,e.g., a traffic transmission priority level for the traffic to betransmitted from one communications device to another communicationsdevice. In at least one embodiment, recovered first QoS level from thesignal 840 represents a traffic transmission priority for the trafficdata that the access router 806 intends to transmit to the secondcommunications device, e.g., device C 808. Operation proceeds fromsub-step 916 to sub-step 918.

In sub-step 918, the first communications device, e.g., device A 802,makes a decision how to proceed based on the result of the comparison ofthe QoS levels in sub-step 916. If the second QoS level corresponding totraffic data that the first communications device, e.g. device A 802,intends to transmit is greater than the recovered first QoS levelcorresponding to traffic data that the access router 806 intends totransmit, then the operation proceeds to sub-step 920. In sub-step 920the first communications device, e.g., device A 802, decides to transmitthe traffic data irrespective of a power level of the first transmissionrequest signal, e.g., signal 840 from the access router 806. In such anevent, the operation proceeds from step 920 to step 926.

However, if the second QoS level is lower than the recovered first QoSlevel, then the operation proceeds from step 918 to sub-step 922. Insub-step 922 the first communications device, e.g., device A 802,decides whether or not to transmit, based on a received power level ofthe first transmission request response signal, e.g., signal 842, fromthe second communications device, e.g., device C 808, and based on aninterference cost estimate, said interference cost estimate being basedon the received power level of the first transmission request responsesignal, e.g. signal 842. In some embodiments an interference costestimate, e.g., an SIR level, is calculated by the first communicationsdevice, e.g. device A 802 as a part of the decision making sub-step 922.The power level of the received first transmission request responsesignal, e.g., signal 842, is, in some embodiments, used to provide anindication of proximity of the second communications device, e.g.,device C 808, with respect to the first communications device, e.g.device A 802. This is of practical importance because if the firstcommunications device, e.g. device A 802, and second device, e.g. deviceC 808, are in close proximity then traffic data transmissions from thefirst communications device, e.g. device A 802 directed to the thirdcommunications device, e.g., device B 804, may cause substantialinterference to device C 108 when it is attempting to receive andrecover the higher priority traffic data from the access router 806, ifboth traffic data transmission use the same air link traffic resources,e.g., same traffic segment.

If the communications devices (802, 804, 810, . . . ,812) in the peer topeer communications network 100 are aware of a higher priority of thetraffic data from the access router 106 to third communications device,e.g., device C 808, than the priority associated with its own intendedtraffic transmission, the communications devices (802, 804, 810, . . .,812) make their transmission decision by considering the interferenceproblems that they may cause to the higher priority traffictransmitting/receiving device pair (806, 808). Thus, using power levelof the first transmission request response signal, e.g. signal 842, asreceived by the first communications device, e.g. device A 802, aninterference cost estimate is calculated by first communications device,e.g. device A 802. In some embodiments, sub-step 922 also includes asub-step 924. In sub-step 924 the calculated interference cost estimateis compared to, e.g., a threshold, to determine if the firstcommunications, e.g., device A 802, is expected to cause interferenceabove a threshold level to the second communications device, e.g. deviceC 808 which is expected to be receiving higher priority traffic from theaccess router 806. If the interference cost estimate is less than thethreshold the first communications device, e.g., device A 802, decidesto transmit traffic data and the operation proceeds from sub-step 924 tostep 926. In step 926, the first communications device, e.g. device A802, transmits the traffic data to the third communications device, e.g.device B 804.

However, if the calculated interference cost is over the threshold levelthen a decision not to transmit traffic data is made by the firstcommunications device, e.g. device A 802. In such a situation operationproceeds from sub-step 922 to step 928, where the first communicationsdevice, e.g. device A 802, is controlled to refrain from transmittingthe traffic data in this traffic slot. Depending on whether the firstcommunications device, e.g. device A 802, transmits or not, operationproceeds from step 926 or 928 to step 930. In step 930, the operationgoes back to step 904, and steps 904 through 914 may, and sometimes are,repeated by the first communications device, e.g. device A 802. Forexample, prior to receiving another pilot signal from the access router806 another iteration of steps 904 through 914, and one of steps 926 and918 is performed. Thus in some embodiments, the same channel estimatebetween the first communications device and the access router is used inrecovering information used for making multiple transmitter yieldingdecisions corresponding to multiple traffic slots.

FIG. 10 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 1000 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Communications device 1000 is,e.g., a mobile wireless terminal supporting peer to peer communicationsand implementing a method in accordance with flowcharts 900 of FIG. 9.First communications device 1000 is, e.g., communications device A 802of system 800 of FIG. 8. Communications device 1000 includes a processor1002 and memory 1004 coupled together via a bus 1009 over which thevarious elements (1002, 1004) may interchange data and information.Communications device 1000 further includes an input module 1006 and anoutput module 1008 which may be coupled to the processor 1002 as shown.However, in some embodiments the input module 1006 and output module1008 are located internal to the processor 1002. Input module 1006 canreceive input signals. Input module 1006 can, and in some embodimentsdoes, include a wireless receiver and/or a wired or optical inputinterface for receiving input. Output module 1008 may include, and insome embodiments does include, a wireless transmitter and/or a wired oroptical output interface for transmitting output. Processor 1002 isconfigured to: recover a first quality of service (QoS) level from afirst transmission request signal directed to a second communicationsdevice; and make a decision whether or not to transmit traffic data to athird communications device based on the recovered first QoS level.

The processor 1002 is further configured to: receive the firsttransmission request signal from an access router, said firsttransmission request signal being a request to transmit data from saidaccess router to the second communications device. In some embodiments,recovering the first QoS level includes recovering the QoS level from aphase of the first transmission request signal. In some embodiments, theprocessor 1002 is further configured to: receive a pilot signal from theaccess router, generate, based on the received pilot signal, a channelestimate of a channel between said access router and said communicationsdevice 1000, and use the generated channel estimate to interpret a phaseof the received first transmission request signal, the phase of thefirst transmission request signal indicating the first quality ofservice level.

In some embodiments the processor 1002 is further configured to comparethe recovered first QoS level to a second QoS level corresponding tosaid traffic data. In at least some embodiments the processor 1002 isfurther configured to decide to transmit irrespective of a receivedpower level of the first transmission request signal when the second QoSlevel is higher than the recovered first QoS level. In some embodiments,the processor 1002 is further configured to decide whether or not totransmit, when the second QoS is lower than the recovered first QoSlevel, based on a received power level of a first transmission requestresponse signal received from the second communications device and basedon an interference cost estimate, said interference cost estimate beingbased on the received power level of the first transmission requestresponse signal.

In at least some embodiments, the processor 1002 is further configuredto make multiple decisions whether or not to transmit traffic data indifferent transmission time slots. In some embodiments, the processor1002 is configured to make said multiple decisions, e.g., prior toreceiving another pilot signal from the access router.

FIG. 11 is an assembly of modules 1100 which can, and in someembodiments are, used in the communications device 1000 illustrated inFIG. 10. The modules in the assembly 1100 can be implemented in hardwarewithin the processor 1002 of FIG. 10, e.g., as individual circuits.Alternatively, the modules may be implemented in software and stored inthe memory 1004 of the communications device 1000 shown in FIG. 10.While shown in the FIG. 10 embodiment as a single processor, e.g.,computer, it should be appreciated that the processor 1002 may beimplemented as one or more processors, e.g., computers. When implementedin software the modules include code, which when executed by theprocessor, configure the processor, e.g., computer, 1002 to implementthe function corresponding to the module. In embodiments where theassembly of modules 1100 is stored in the memory 1004, the memory 1004is a computer program product comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising code, e.g., individual code for each module, for causing atleast one computer, e.g., processor 1002, to implement the functions towhich the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 11 control and/or configure the communicationsdevice 1000 or elements therein such as the processor 1002, to performthe functions of the corresponding steps illustrated in the methodflowchart 900 of FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the assembly of modules 1100 includes amodule 1102 for transmitting a transmission request signal to a thirdcommunications device, a module 1104 for receiving a transmissionrequest response from the third communications device, a module 1106receiving a first transmission request signal from an access router,said first transmission request signal being a request to transmit datafrom said access router to a second communications device, a module 1108for receiving a pilot signal from the access router, a module 1110 forgenerating, e.g., based on the received pilot signal, a channel estimateof a channel between the access router and the first communicationsdevice 1000, a module 1112 for recovering a first quality of service(QoS) level from the first transmission request signal, and a module1116 for deciding whether or not to transmit traffic data to a thirdcommunications device based on the recovered first quality of servicelevel. The assembly of modules 1100 further includes a module 1126 fortransmitting traffic data, and a module 1128 for making multipledecisions whether or not to transmit traffic data in differenttransmission time slots, for example, prior to receiving another pilotsignal from the access router.

In at least some embodiments the module 1112 includes a module 1113 forrecovering the first QoS level from a phase of the first transmissionrequest signal, and a module 1114 for using the generated channelestimate to interpret the phase of the first transmission requestsignal. In some embodiments, the module 1116 for deciding includes: amodule 1118 for comparing the recovered first QoS level to a second QoSlevel, said second quality of service level corresponding to saidtraffic data to be transmitted, a module 1120 for deciding to transmitthe traffic data when the second QoS level is higher than the recoveredfirst QoS level, irrespective of a received power level of the firsttransmission request signal, a module 1122 for deciding whether or notto transmit, when the second QoS level is lower than the recovered firstQoS level, based on a received power level of a first transmissionrequest response signal received from said second communications deviceand based on an interference cost estimate, the interference costestimate being based on the received power level of the firsttransmission request response signal. In some embodiments the module1122 includes a module 1124 for comparing the interference cost estimateto a threshold.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart 1200 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device, e.g., communications device B 804 of FIG. 8, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Operation of the exemplarymethod starts in step 1201 where the first communications device, e.g.device B 804, is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds fromstart step 1201 to step 1202 and, in some embodiments, to step 1203. Insome embodiments, the first communications device, e.g., device B 804,also executes the channel estimation sub-routine 1203 in parallel withvarious other steps in flowchart 1200. In step 1205, the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 804, receives a pilot signal 830from the access router 806. In step 1207, using the received pilotsignal 830 the first communications device, e.g., device B 804,generates a channel estimate for a channel between first communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 804, and the access router 806, and the processrepeats after a time period of time, e.g., in accordance with apredetermined timing structure. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, the generated channel estimate may, and sometimes is, usedby the first communications device, e.g., device B 804, to interpretphase of the transmission request signal, e.g. signal 840. The arrow1211 represents that generated channel estimate is available to thefirst communications device, e.g., device B 804, and may be used by thefirst communications device, e.g., device B 804, in implementing themethod of flowchart 1200.

In step 1202 the first communications device, e.g. device B 804,monitors for transmission request signals that other devices may havetransmitted to the first communications device, e.g. to device B 804. Inat least one exemplary embodiment, step 1202 includes sub-steps 1204 and1206. In sub-step 1204 the first communications device, e.g. device B804, receives a first transmission request signal, e.g., transmissionrequest signal 840, from an access router, e.g., access router 806. Thefirst transmission request signal 840 is a traffic transmission requestfrom the access router 806 to a second communications device, e.g.,communications device C 808. In some embodiments, the first transmissionrequest signal, e.g. signal 840, is a single tone signal. In someembodiments, the phase of the first transmission request signal, e.g.,the phase of signal 840, carries QoS information. In some embodiments,the QoS information conveys a traffic transmission priority fortransmission of the traffic data for which the transmission request 840was made by the access router 806. In sub-step 1206 the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 804, receives a secondtransmission request signal, e.g., transmission request signal 844, froma third communications device, e.g., communications device A 802. Theoperation proceeds from step 1202 to step 1208.

In step 1208, the first communications device, e.g. device B 804,recovers a first QoS level from the first transmission request signal,e.g. from signal 840. In some embodiments the first communicationsdevice, e.g. device B 804, recovers the first QoS level from a phase ofthe first transmission request signal, e.g. from the phase of signal840. In some embodiments, the first communications device, e.g. device B804, as part of recovering the first QoS level in step 1208, performssub-step 1210. In sub-step 1210, the first communications device, e.g.,device B 804, uses the generated channel estimate, e.g., from step 1207,to interpret a phase of the received first transmission request signal840.

Operation proceeds from step 1208 to step 1212. In step 1212 the firstcommunications device, e.g. device B 804, decides, based on therecovered first QoS level, whether or not to transmit a firsttransmission request response signal, e.g., request response signal 846,in response to the second transmission request signal, e.g. signal 844,from the third communications device, e.g., device A 802. In someembodiments, step includes one or more of sub-steps 1214, 1216, 1218,1220 and 1222. In sub-step 1214, the first communications device, e.g.,device B 804, compares the recovered first QoS level to a second QoSlevel corresponding to a connection between the first communicationsdevice, e.g. device B 804, and the third communications device, e.g.,device A 802. In some embodiments, there is a connection identifierassociated with the connection between the third communications device,e.g. device A 802, and the first communications device B, e.g. device804. In some such embodiments there is a QoS level associated with sucha connection identifier. In some such embodiments the QoS level is,e.g., a traffic transmission priority level for the traffic to betransmitted from the third communications device, e.g. device A 802, tofirst communications device, e.g., device B 804. Thus in at least oneembodiment, in sub-step 1214 a comparison is performed between thetraffic transmission priority indicated by the recovered QoS level andtransmission priority of the traffic data to be transmitted from thirdcommunications device, e.g. device A 802, to the first communicationsdevice, e.g. device B 804. Operation proceeds from sub-step 1214 tosub-step 1216.

In sub-step 1216, the first communications device, e.g. device B 804,makes a decision how to proceed based on the result of the comparison ofthe QoS levels in sub-step 1214. If the second QoS level correspondingto the connection between third communications device, e.g. device A802, and second communications device, e.g., device B 804, is greaterthan the recovered first QoS level, e.g., the QoS level recovered fromphase of request signal 840, the operation proceeds from sub-step 1216to sub-step 1218. In sub-step 1218 the first communications device, e.g.device B 804, decides to transmit the first transmission requestresponse signal, e.g., signal 846, to the third communications device,e.g. to device A 802. In such a situation, the operation proceeds fromstep 1218 to step 1224. However, if the recovered first QoS level isgreater than the second QoS level corresponding to the connectionbetween the third device, e.g., device A 802, and the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 804, then operation proceeds fromsub-step 1216 to sub-step 1220. In sub-step 1220, the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 804, generates a channel qualityestimate, e.g., an SIR, based on a received power of the secondtransmission request signal, e.g. signal 844, received from the thirdcommunications device, e.g., device A 802, and a received power level ofthe first transmission request signal, e.g. signal 840, from the accessrouter 806 to the second communications device, e.g., device C 808. Forexample, in some embodiments, an SIR level is calculated using thereceived power of the second transmission request signal 844 as thesignal power and received power level of the first transmission requestsignal 840 from the access router 806 as the interference signal power.

A generated channel quality estimate from sub-step 1220, which exceeds athreshold, in some embodiments, is an indication that the higherpriority traffic data that is intended be transmitted from the accessrouter 806 to device C 808, is expected to cause an unacceptable levelof interference to the first communications device, e.g. device B 804,in receiving and/or recovering traffic data from the thirdcommunications device, e.g. device A 802. Since the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 804, is aware that traffic data corresponding tothe access router 806 has a higher transmission priority than its ownpriority, and thus access router 806 is more likely to transmit trafficdata to the second communications device, e.g. device C 808, the firstcommunications device, e.g. device B 804, in some embodiments, refrainsfrom transmitting the transmission request response 846. Thus in such asituation, first communications device, e.g. device B 804, performsreceiver yielding and does not approve the transmission request for thistraffic slot, since it expects that if it has acquiesced in the intendedtraffic transmission of request 844 it would have had poor reception oftraffic data from the third communications device, e.g., device A 802.The operation proceeds from sub-step 1220 to sub-step 1222.

In sub-step 1222 a decision is made whether or not to transmit the firstrequest response signal, e.g. signal 846, to third communicationsdevice, e.g. device A 802, based on the generated channel qualityestimate in sub-step 1220. Depending on the decision made based on thegenerated channel quality estimate, the operation may proceed to step1224 or step 1226. In some embodiments, the decision step 1222 includescomparing the generated channel quality estimate of sub-step 1220 with athreshold level and deciding to proceed based on the result of such acomparison. If the generated channel quality is below a threshold level,indicating that transmission of traffic from the access router 806 tosecond communications device, e.g., device C 808, is not expected tocause a substantial interference problem to the first communicationsdevice, e.g., device B 804, in receiving traffic data from thirdcommunications, e.g. device A 802, then the first communications device,e.g. device B 804, in some embodiments, decides to transmit the firsttransmission request response signal, e.g. signal 846, to the thirdcommunications device, e.g. device A 802. In such a situation theoperation proceeds from sub-step 1222 to step 1224. In step 1224 thefirst communications device, e.g., device B 804, transmits the firsttransmission request response signal, e.g. signal 846, to the thirdcommunications device, e.g. device A 802. On the other hand if thegenerated channel quality estimate of step 1220 is above the thresholdthen the first communications device, e.g. device B 804, in someembodiments, decides not to transmit first transmission request responsesignal, e.g. signal 846, to the third communications device, e.g. deviceA 802. In such situation, the operation proceeds from step 1212 whichincludes sub-step 1222, to step 1226. In step 1226 the firstcommunications device, e.g., device B 804 is controlled to refrain fromtransmitting the first transmission request response signal, e.g. signal846, to the third communications device, e.g. device A 802. Depending onwhether the first communications device, e.g. device B 804, transmits ornot, operation proceeds from step 1224 or 1226 to step 1228. In step1228, the operation goes back to step 1202, and steps 1203 through 1212may be, and sometimes are, repeated by the first communications device,e.g. device B 804. In one example the steps 1203 through 1212 arerepeated, corresponding to another traffic slot, prior to receivinganother pilot signal from the access router 806. Thus, in at least someembodiments, the same channel estimate between the access router and thefirst communications device, e.g., from step 1207, is used in multipletraffic slots to recover information utilized in making multiple traffictransmission decisions.

FIG. 13 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 1300 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Communications device 1300 is,e.g., a mobile wireless terminal supporting peer to peer communicationsand implementing a method in accordance with flowcharts 1200 of FIG. 12.Communications device 1300 is, e.g., communications device B 804 ofsystem 800 of FIG. 8. Communications device 1300 includes a processor1302 and memory 1304 coupled together via a bus 1309 over which thevarious elements (1302, 1304) may interchange data and information.Communications device 1300 further includes an input module 1306 and anoutput module 1308 which may be coupled to the processor 1302 as shown.However, in some embodiments the input module 1306 and output module1308 are located internal to the processor 1302. Input module 1306 canreceive input signals. Input module 1306 can, and in some embodimentsdoes, include a wireless receiver and/or a wired or optical inputinterface for receiving input. Output module 1308 may include, and insome embodiments does include, a wireless transmitter and/or a wired oroptical output interface for transmitting output.

Processor 1302 is configured to: recover a first quality of service(QoS) level from a first transmission request signal, and make adecision whether or not to transmit a first transmission requestresponse signal in response to a second transmission request signalbased on the recovered first QoS level. In some embodiments secondtransmission request signal is from a third communications device. Insome embodiments, the processor 1302 is further configured to receive afirst transmission request signal from an access router, said firsttransmission request signal being a traffic transmission request fromsaid access router to a second communications device.

In some embodiments, the processor 1302 is further configured to:receive a pilot signal from the access router, generate a channelestimate of a channel between said access router and said communicationsdevice 1300, and use the generated channel estimate to interpret a phaseof the received first transmission request signal.

In some embodiments, the processor 1302 is further configured to comparethe recovered first QoS level to a second QoS level, said second QoSlevel corresponding to a connection between the third communicationsdevice and the communications device 1300. In at least some embodiments,the processor 1302 is further configured to decide to transmit the firsttransmission request response signal when the second QoS levelcorresponding to the connection between the third communications deviceand said communications device 1300 is higher than the recovered firstQoS level. In some embodiments, the processor 1302 is further configuredto: generate a channel quality estimate based on a received power of thesecond transmission request signal from the third communications deviceand a received power of the first transmission request signaltransmitted from the access router to the second communications device,and decide whether or not to transmit the first transmission requestresponse signal, based on the generated channel quality estimate whenthe second QoS level is lower than the recovered first QoS level.

In at least some embodiments, the processor 1302 is further configuredto make multiple decisions whether or not to transmit a transmissionrequest response signal in different transmission time slots. In someembodiments the processor 1302 is configured to make said multipledecisions, e.g., prior to receiving another pilot signal from the accessrouter.

FIG. 14 is an assembly of modules 1400 which can, and in someembodiments are, used in the communications device 1300 illustrated inFIG. 13. The modules in the assembly 1400 can be implemented in hardwarewithin the processor 1302 of FIG. 13, e.g., as individual circuits.Alternatively, the modules may be implemented in software and stored inthe memory 1304 of the communications device 1300 shown in FIG. 13.While shown in the FIG. 13 embodiment as a single processor, e.g.,computer, it should be appreciated that the processor 1302 may beimplemented as one or more processors, e.g., computers. When implementedin software the modules include code, which when executed by theprocessor, configure the processor, e.g., computer, 1302 to implementthe function corresponding to the module. In embodiments where theassembly of modules 1400 is stored in the memory 1304, the memory 1304is a computer program product comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising code, e.g., individual code for each module, for causing atleast one computer, e.g., processor 1302, to implement the functions towhich the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware (e.g., circuit implemented) modules may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the modulesillustrated in FIG. 14 control and/or configure the communicationsdevice 1300 or elements therein such as the processor 1302, to performthe functions of the corresponding steps illustrated in the methodflowchart 1200 of FIG. 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the assembly of modules 1400 includes amodule 1402 for monitoring for transmission request signals. The module1402 includes a module 1404 for receiving a first transmission requestsignal from an access router, said first transmission request signalbeing a traffic transmission request from said access router to a secondcommunications device, and a module 1406 for receiving a secondtransmission request signal from a third communications device. Theassembly of modules 1400 further includes a module 1408 for receiving apilot signal from the access router, a module 1410 for generating achannel estimate of a channel between the access router and the firstcommunications device 1300, a module 1412 for recovering a first QoSlevel from the first transmission request signal, a module 1416 fordeciding whether or not to transmit a transmission request responsesignal in response to the second transmission request signal from thethird communications device, based on the recovered first QoS level, amodule 1426 for transmitting the first transmission request responsesignal, and a module 1428 making multiple decisions whether or not totransmit a transmission request response in different transmission timeslots, for example, prior to receiving another pilot signal from theaccess router.

In at least some embodiments the module 1412 includes a module 1414 forusing the generated channel estimate of the channel between the accessrouter and the first communications device 1300 to interpret a phase ofthe received first transmission request signal. In at least someembodiments, the module 1416 includes: a module 1418 for comparing therecovered first QoS level to a second QoS level, the second QoS levelcorresponding to a connection between said first communications device1300 and the third communications device, a module 1420 for deciding totransmit the first transmission request response when the second QoSlevel corresponding to the connection between said first communicationsdevice 1300 and the third communications device is higher than therecovered first QoS level, a module 1422 for generating a channelquality estimate based on a received power of the second transmissionrequest signal from the third communications device and the receivedpower of the first transmission request signal transmitted from theaccess router to the second communications device, and a module 1424 fordeciding whether or not to transmit the first transmission requestresponse signal, based on the generated channel quality estimate, whenthe second QoS level is lower than the recovered first QoS level.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., mobile nodes such as mobileterminals, base stations, communications system. Various embodiments arealso directed to methods, e.g., method of controlling and/or operatingmobile nodes, base stations and/or communications systems, e.g., hosts.Various embodiments are also directed to machine, e.g., computer,readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., which includemachine readable instructions for controlling a machine to implement oneor more steps of a method.

In various embodiments nodes described herein are implemented using oneor more modules to perform the steps corresponding to one or moremethods, for example, signal processing, message generation and/ortransmission steps. Thus, in some embodiments various features areimplemented using modules. Such modules may be implemented usingsoftware, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Many ofthe above described methods or method steps can be implemented usingmachine executable instructions, such as software, included in a machinereadable medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. tocontrol a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or withoutadditional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above describedmethods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among other things,various embodiments are directed to a machine-readable medium includingmachine executable instructions for causing a machine, e.g., processorand associated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of theabove-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed to a device,e.g., communications node, including a processor configured to implementone, multiple or all of the steps of one or more methods of theinvention.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications nodes such as access nodes and/orwireless terminals, are configured to perform the steps of the methodsdescribed as being performed by the communications nodes. Theconfiguration of the processor may be achieved by using one or moremodules, e.g., software modules, to control processor configurationand/or by including hardware in the processor, e.g., hardware modules,to perform the recited steps and/or control processor configuration.Accordingly, some but not all embodiments are directed to a device,e.g., communications node, with a processor which includes a modulecorresponding to each of the steps of the various described methodsperformed by the device in which the processor is included. In some butnot all embodiments a device, e.g., communications node, includes amodule corresponding to each of the steps of the various describedmethods performed by the device in which the processor is included. Themodules may be implemented using software and/or hardware.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, ormultiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on theembodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does,include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computerprogram product may, and sometimes does, include code for eachindividual step of a method, e.g., a method of controlling acommunications device or node. The code may be in the form of machine,e.g., computer, executable instructions stored on a computer-readablemedium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) orother type of storage device. In addition to being directed to acomputer program product, some embodiments are directed to a processorconfigured to implement one or more of the various functions, steps,acts and/or operations of one or more methods described above.Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU,configured to implement some or all of the steps of the methodsdescribed herein. The processor may be for use in, e.g., acommunications device or other device described in the presentapplication.

While described in the context of an OFDM system, at least some of themethods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a widerange of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/ornon-cellular systems.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. The methods and apparatus may be, and invarious embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications linksbetween access nodes and mobile nodes. In some embodiments the accessnodes are implemented as base stations which establish communicationslinks with mobile nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA. In various embodimentsthe mobile nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal dataassistants (PDAs), or other portable devices includingreceiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, forimplementing the methods.

1. A method of operating a first communications device, comprising:recovering a first quality of service level from a first transmissionrequest signal directed to a second communications device; and making adecision whether or not to transmit traffic data to a thirdcommunications device based on the recovered first quality of servicelevel.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving the firsttransmission request signal from an access router, said firsttransmission request signal being a request to transmit data from saidaccess router to the second communications device; and wherein saidrecovering the first quality of service level includes recovering thequality of service level from a phase of the first transmission requestsignal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmission requestsignal is a single tone signal.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving a pilot signal from the access router; generating,based on the received pilot signal, a channel estimate of a channelbetween said access router and said first communications device; andwherein said recovering the first quality of service level includesusing the generated channel estimate to interpret a phase of the firsttransmission request signal, the phase of the first transmission requestsignal indicating the first quality of service level.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein said making a decision whether or not to transmitincludes: comparing the recovered first quality of service level to asecond quality of service level, said second quality of service levelcorresponding to said traffic data.
 6. The method of claim 4, whereinsaid making a decision whether or not to transmit traffic data includes:deciding to transmit, when the second quality of service level is higherthan the recovered first quality of service level, irrespective of areceived power level of the first transmission request signal.
 7. Themethod of claim 4, wherein said making a decision whether or not totransmit includes: deciding, when the second quality of service level islower than the recovered first quality of service level, whether or notto transmit based on a received power level of a first transmissionrequest response signal received from said second communications deviceand based on an interference cost estimate, said interference costestimate being based on the received power level of the firsttransmission request response signal.
 8. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising: making multiple decisions whether or not to transmit trafficdata in different transmission time slots.
 9. A first communicationsdevice, comprising: at least one processor configured to: recover afirst quality of service level from a first transmission request signaldirected to a second communications device; and make a decision whetheror not to transmit traffic data to a third communications device basedon the recovered first quality of service level; and a memory coupled tothe at least one processor.
 10. The first communications device of claim9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receivethe first transmission request signal from an access router, said firsttransmission request signal being a request to transmit data from saidaccess router to the second communications device; and recover thequality of service level from a phase of the first transmission requestsignal.
 11. The first communications device of claim 9, wherein thefirst transmission request signal is a single tone signal.
 12. The firstcommunications device of claim 9, wherein said at least one processor isfurther configured to: receive a pilot signal from the access router;generate, based on the received pilot signal, a channel estimate of achannel between said access router and said first communications device;and use the generated channel estimate to interpret a phase of the firsttransmission request signal, the phase of the first transmission requestsignal indicating the first quality of service level.
 13. The firstcommunications device of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to: compare the recovered first quality of servicelevel to a second quality of service level, said second quality ofservice corresponding to said traffic data.
 14. A first communicationsdevice, comprising: means for recovering a first quality of servicelevel from a first transmission request signal directed to a secondcommunications device; and means for making a decision whether or not totransmit traffic data to a third communications device based on therecovered first quality of service level.
 15. The first communicationsdevice of claim 14, further comprising: means for receiving the firsttransmission request signal from an access router, said firsttransmission request signal being a request to transmit data from saidaccess router to the second communications device; and means forrecovering the quality of service level from a phase of the firsttransmission request signal.
 16. The first communications device ofclaim 14, wherein the first transmission request signal is a single tonesignal.
 17. The first communications device of claim 14 furthercomprising: means for receiving a pilot signal from the access router;means for generating, based on the received pilot signal, a channelestimate of a channel between said access router and said firstcommunications device; and wherein said means for recovering the firstquality of service level include means for using the generated channelestimate to interpret a phase of the first transmission request signal,the phase of the first transmission request signal indicating the firstquality of service level.
 18. The first communications device of claim17, further comprising: means for comparing the recovered first qualityof service level to a second quality of service level, said secondquality of service corresponding to said traffic data.
 19. A computerprogram product for use in a first communications device, comprising: acomputer readable medium comprising: code for causing at least onecomputer to recover a first quality of service level from a firsttransmission request signal directed to a second communications device;and code for causing the at least one computer to make a decisionwhether or not to transmit traffic data to a third communications devicebased on the recovered first quality of service level.
 20. The computerprogram product of claim 19, wherein the computer readable mediumfurther comprises: code for causing the at least one computer to receivethe first transmission request signal from an access router, said firsttransmission request signal being a request to transmit data from saidaccess router to a second communications device; and code for causingthe at least one computer to recover the quality of service level from aphase of the first transmission request signal.
 21. A method ofoperating a first communications device, comprising: recovering a firstquality of service level from a first transmission request signal; andmaking a decision whether or not to transmit a first transmissionrequest response signal in response to a second transmission requestsignal based on the recovered first quality of service level.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the second transmission request signal isfrom a third communications device, the method further comprising:receiving the first transmission request signal from an access router,said first transmission request signal being a traffic transmissionrequest from said access router to a second communications device. 23.The method of claim 22, wherein the first transmission request signal isa single tone signal.
 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:receiving a pilot signal from the access router; generating a channelestimate of a channel between said access router and said firstcommunications device; and wherein said recovering the first quality ofservice level includes using the generated channel estimate to interpreta phase of the first transmission request signal, the phase of thereceived first transmission request signal communicating the firstquality of service level.
 25. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: wherein said making a decision whether or not to transmit atransmission request response comprises comparing the recovered firstquality of service level to a second quality of service level, saidsecond quality of service level corresponding to a connection betweensaid first communications device and the third communications device.26. The method of claim 25, wherein said making a decision whether ornot to transmit further comprises: deciding to transmit, when the secondquality of service level is higher than the recovered first quality ofservice level.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein said making adecision whether or not to transmit further comprises: generating achannel quality estimate based on a received power of the secondtransmission request signal from the third communications device and areceived power of the first transmission request signal transmitted fromthe access router to the second communications device; and decidingwhether or not to transmit, based on the generated channel qualityestimate, when the second quality of service level is lower than therecovered first quality of service level.
 28. The method of claim 24,further comprising: making multiple decisions whether or not to transmita transmission request response in different transmission time slots.29. A first communications device, comprising: at least one processorconfigured to: recover a first quality of service level from a firsttransmission request signal; and make a decision whether or not totransmit a first transmission request response signal in response to asecond transmission request signal, based on the recovered first qualityof service level; a memory coupled to the at least one processor. 30.The first communications device of claim 29, wherein the secondtransmission request signal is from a third communications device, andwherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive thefirst transmission request signal from an access router, said firsttransmission request signal being a traffic transmission request fromsaid access router to a second communications device.
 31. The firstcommunications device of claim 30, wherein the first transmissionrequest signal is a single tone signal.
 32. The first communicationsdevice of claim 29, wherein said at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: receive a pilot signal from the access router; generate achannel estimate of a channel between said access router and said firstcommunications device; and use the generated channel estimate tointerpret a phase of the first transmission request signal, the phase ofthe received first transmission request signal communicating the firstquality of service level.
 33. The first communications device of claim29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: comparethe recovered first quality of service level to a second quality ofservice level, said second quality of service level corresponding to aconnection between the third communications device and said firstcommunications device.
 34. A first communications device, comprising:means for recovering a first quality of service level from a firsttransmission request signal; and means for making a decision whether ornot to transmit a first transmission request response signal in responseto a second transmission request signal based on the recovered firstquality of service level.
 35. The first communications device of claim34, wherein the second transmission request signal is from a thirdcommunications device, and wherein the first communications devicefurther comprises: means for receiving the first transmission requestsignal from an access router, said first transmission request signalbeing a traffic transmission request from said access router to a secondcommunications device.
 36. The first communications device of claim 35,wherein the first transmission request signal is a single tone signal.37. The first communications device of claim 34 further comprising:means for receiving a pilot signal from the access router; means forgenerating a channel estimate of a channel between said access routerand said first communications device; and wherein said means forrecovering the first quality of service level include means for usingthe generated channel estimate to interpret a phase of the firsttransmission request signal, the phase of the received firsttransmission request signal communicating the first quality of servicelevel.
 38. The first communications device of claim 34, furthercomprising: means for comparing the recovered first quality of servicelevel to a second quality of service level, said second quality ofservice level corresponding to a connection between the thirdcommunications device and said first communications device.
 39. Acomputer program product for use in a first communications device,comprising: a computer readable medium comprising: code for causing atleast one computer to recover a first quality of service level from afirst transmission request signal; and code for causing the at least onecomputer to make a decision whether or not to transmit a firsttransmission request response signal in response to a secondtransmission request signal based on the recovered first quality ofservice level.
 40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein thesecond transmission request signal is from a third communicationsdevice, and wherein the computer readable medium further comprises: codefor causing the at least one computer to receive the first transmissionrequest signal from an access router, said first transmission requestsignal being a traffic transmission request from said access router to asecond communications device.